Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 12 · Account 125

Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2 · Book 12 · Account 125

p. 2099*The seuere punishment of God vponupon the persecutours of his people and enemyes to his word, with such also as hauehave bene blasphemers, contemners, and mockers of his Religion.

LEauing now Queene Mary, being dead and gone, I come to them whiche vnderunder her were the chiefe Ministers and doers in this persecution,A treatise of Gods seuere punishment aagaynst c…ell p…secutors, and enemyes to his … De …. lib. 13. the Byshops (I meane) and Priestes of the Clergy, to whō Queene Mary gaue all the execution of her power, as did Queene Alexandra to the Phariseis after the tyme of the Machabees. Of whom Iosephus thus writeth: Ipsa solum nomen regium ferebat, caeterum omnem regni potestatem Pharisaei possidebant. That is: She onelyonly reteyned to her selfe the name and title of the kingdome, but all her power, she gaue to the phariseis to possesse. &c. Touching which Prelates and Priestes, here is to be noted in lyke sorte the wonderfull and miraculous prouidence of almighty GOD, which as he abridged the reigne of theyr Queene, so he suffered them not to escape vnuisited: first beginning with Stephen Gardiner the Archpersecutour of Christes Church, whom he tooke away about the middest of the Queenes reigne. Of whose poysoned lyfe and stincking end,The death of Stephen Gardiner read before pag 1786. forsomuche as sufficient hath bene touched before. pag. 1786. I shall not need here to make any newe rehearsall therof.

After him dropped other awaye also, some before the death of Queene Mary, and some after,… S. Dauids. as Morgan Byshop of S. Dauids, who sitting vppon the condemnation of the blessed Martyr bysh. Farrar, and vniustly vsurping his rowm, not long after was stricken by Gods hauehave after such a strange sort, that his meate would not go down but rise & pycke vp agayne, somtyme at his mouth, sometyme blowne out of his nose most horrible to beholde, & so he continued till his death. Where note moreouer y^t when Mayster Leyson being then Sheriffe at Byshop Farrars burning, had fet away the cattell of the sayde Byshoppe,A note of …. from his seruauntes house called Matthewe Harbottell, into his owne custody, the cattell comming into the Sheriffes ground, diuers of them would neuer eate meate but lay bellowing and roaring, and so dyed.

This foresayd Byshoppe Morgan aboue mentioned, bringeth me also in remembraunce of Iustice Morgan,Iustice Morgan … with …. D Dunning … Chauncel…our, … wi… sodaine …ath. who sate vponupon the death of the Lady Iane, & not long after the same, fell mad and was bereft of his wittes, & so died, hauing euer in his mouth, Lady Iane, Lady Iane. &c.

Before the death of Queene Mary, dyed Doct. Dunning the bloudy and wretched Chauncellour of Norwich who, after he had most rigorously condēned and murthered so many simple and faythfull Sayntes of the Lord, cō tinued not longe himselfe, but in the middest of his rage in Queene Maryes dayes dyed in Lincolnshyre being sodaynly taken (as some say) sitting in his chayre.

The like sodayne death fel also vponupon Berry Commissary in Northfolke,The sodayne death of Berr…y a Cōmissary in Northfolke. who (as is before shewed in the story of Thomas Hudson) foure dayes after Queene Maryes death, when he had made a great feast, and had one of hys concubines there, comming home from the Church after Euensong, where he hadde ministred Baptisme the same tyme, betweene the Churchyard and his house, sodeinly fell downe to the ground with a heauy grone, and neuer styrred after, neither shewed any one token of repentance.

What a stroke of Gods hand was brought vppon the cruell persecutour of the holy and harmeles sayntes of the Lord, Byshop Thornton, Suffragan of Douer,Gods stroke vponupon D. Thornton Byshop or Suffragan of Douer. who after he had exercised hys cruell tyranny vponupon so many Godly men at Canterbury, at length comming vppon a Saterday from the Chapter house at Caunterbury to Borne, & there vponupon sonday following, looking vponupon his mē praying at the bowles, …ell sodēly in a Palsey, and so had to bed was willed to remember God, Yea, so I doe (sayd he) and my Lord Cardinall to. &c.

After hym succeeded an othher Byshop or Suffragan ordayned by the foresayd Cardinall. It is reported that he had bene Suffragan before to Boner,An other … he had … the Car…inall… bless…. who not … after was made Bysh. or Suffragan of Douer, brake his necke fallyng downe a payre of stayres in the Cardinals chāber at Grenewich, as he had receiued the Cardinals blessing.

Among other plentifull and sondrye examples of the Lordes iudgement and seueritie practised vponupon the cruell persecutors of hys people, that is not the least that followeth, concerning the story of one William Fenning, y^e effect and circumstance of which matter is this.

Iohn Cooper, of the age of 44. yeares, dwelling at Watsam in the County of Suffolke, beyng by science a Carpenter, a man of a very honest report & a good housekeeper, a harbourer of straungers, that trauayled for conscience, and one that fauoured Religion, and those that were religious, he was of honest conuersation and good lyfe hating all popish and papisticall trash.

This man being at home in his house, there came vntounto hym one William Fenning, a seruing man dwellyng in the sayd Town of Watsam, and vnderstanding that the sayd Cooper had a couple of fayre Bullockes, did desire to buy them of hym, whiche Cooper told hym that hee was loth to sell them, for that hee had brought them vp for hys owne vse, and if he shoulde sell them, he then must be compelled to buy other and that he would not do.

When Fenning saw he could not get them (for he had often assayed the matter) he sayd he woulde sit as much in his light, and so departed, and wēt and accused him of high treason. The words he was charged with wer these: how he should pray that if God would not take away Queene Mary, that then he should wishe the Deuill to take her away. Of these wordes did this Fenning charge him before sir Henry Do…ell knight (vntounto whome he was caryed by M. Timperley of Hinchlesā in Suffolke, & one Grimwood of Lowshaw Cōstable) which words Cooper sta… ly denyed: & sayd he neuer spake them, but that coulde not helpe.

Notwithstanding he was arrayned therfore at Berry before sir Clement Higham, at a Lent assise, and there this Fenning brought two noughty menne that witnessed the speaking of the foresayd wordes, whose names were Richard White of Watsam, and Grimwood of Higham, p. 2100in the sayd Countie of Suffolke. Whose testimonies were receiued as truth, although this good man Iohn Cooper had said what he could to declare himselfe innocent therein, but to no purpose God knoweth. For his life was determined, as in the ende appeared by sir Clement Hyghams woordes, who said he should not escape, for an example to all heretickes, as in deede hee throughly performed. For immediatly he was iudged to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, which was executed vponupon him shortly after, to the great griefe of manye a good heart. Heere good Cooper is bereft of his life, and leaues behinde him aliue his wife and 9. children with goodes and cattell, to the value of 3. hundred markes, the which substance was al taken away by the sayd sir Henry Doyel Sheriffe, but his wife & pore children left to the wide world in their cloathes, and suffered not to enioy one pennie of that they had sore laboured for, vnlesse they made frendes to buy it with money, of the sayd Sheriffe so cruel and greedy was he and his officers vponupon such things as were there left.

Wel, now this innocēt man is dead▪ his goods spoiled, his wife and children left desolate and comfortlesse, and all things is hushte, and nothing feared of any parte, yet the Lord who surely doth reuenge the guiltles bloud, would not stil so suffer it,The Iudgement of God vponupon Grimwood. but began at the length to punish it him selfe. For in the haruest after, the sayde Grimwood of Hitcham one of the witnesses before specified, as hee was in his labour staking vp a goffe of corne, hauing hys health, and fearing no pearill: sodenly his bowels fell out of hys body, and immediately most miserably he died: suche was the terrible Iudgement of God, to sh…we his displeasure against this bloudy act, and to warne the rest by these hys iudgements to repentance. The Lorde graunt vsus to honour the same for his mercies sake. Amen.

This foresaid Fenning, who was the procurer of this tyrannie against him, is yet aliue, and is nowe a minister, which if he be, I pray God he may so repent that fact, that he may declare himselfe hereafter, such a one as may well aunswere to his vocation accordingly.

But since we hauehave heard that he is no chaungeling but continueth still in his wickednes, & therfore presented before the woorshipfull Mayster Humerston Esquire and Iustice of Peace & Coram for that he had talke with some of his friendes (as he thoughte) how many honest women (to their great infamy) were in the Parish of Wensthaston wherein he is now Ui…are resident, wherfore he was commaunded the next sonday ensuing, to aske all the Parish forgiuenes vpō his knees openly in seruice tyme, which he did in Wensthaston Church beforesayd, & moreouer the abouesayd Fenning is reported, to be more lyke a shifter then a Minister.

To these examples also may be added y^e terrible iudgment of God vponupon the Parson of Crondall in Kent, who vponupon Shrouesonday hauing receiued the Popes Pardon from Cardinal Poole, came to his Parish, and exhorted y^e people to receiue the same, as he had done himselfe: saying y^t he stoode now so cleare in cōscience as whē he was first borne,A terrible example of Gods seuere punishment vponupon one Nightingall Parson of Crondall in Kent. & cared not now if he should dye the same houre in y^e clearenes of conscience: whereupon being sodenly stricken by the hand of God, & leaning a little on the one syde, immediately shronke down in the Pulpit, & so was found dead, speaking not one word more. Read before pag. 1560.

Not long before y^e death of Queene Mary dyed Doctour Capon Bishop of Salisbury. About the which tyme also followed the vnprepared death of Doctour Geffrey Chancellour of Salisbury, who in the midst of his buildings, sodainly being taken by the mighty hand of God, yelded his lyfe, which hadde so little pittye of other mens lyues before. Concerning whose crueltye partly mention is made before pag. 2055.D. Geffrey Chauncellour of Salisbury.

As touching moreouer this foresayde Chauncellour, here is to be noted, that he departing vponupon a Saterday, y^e next day before the same, he hadde appoynted to call before him .90. persons and not so fewe, to examine them by Inquisition, had not the goodnes of the Lord, and his tender prouidence, thus preuented him with death, prouiding for his poore seruauntes in tyme.

And now (to come from Priests to Lay men) we hauehave to finde in them also no lesse terrible demonstrations of Gods heauy iudgement vponupon such as hauehave beene vexers and persecutours of his people.

Before in the story of M. Bradford .1624. mention was made of Maister Woodroffe, who being thē Sheriffe, vsed much to reioyce at the death of the poore Saints of Christ,M. Wood…fe a cruell Sheriffe, plagued. and so hard he was in his office, that when Mayster Rogers was in y^e cart going toward Smithfield, and in the way his childrē wer brought vntounto him, y^e people making a laue for them to come: Maister Woodroffe bad the carmans head should be brokē for staying his cart. But what happened? He was not come out of his office the space of a weeke, but he was stricken by the sodaine hand of God,Read before pag. …624. The betrayer of George Eagles, plagued. the one halfe of his body in suche sorte y^t he lay be nummed and bedred, not able to moue himself but as he was li…ted of other, and so contynued in that infirmity the space of 7. or 8. yeares tyll his dying day, pag. 1624.

Lykewise touching Rafe Lardyn the betrayer of George Eagles, it is thought of some, that y^e sayd Rase afterward was attached himselfe, arraegned, and hanged.

Who being at the barre, had these woordes before the Iudges there, and a greate multitude of people. This is most iustly fallen vponupon me (saythe he) for that he hadde betrayed the innocent bloud of a good & iust man George Eagles, who was here condemned in the time of Queene Maryes raygne thorough his procurment who sold hys bloud for a little money. Not much vnlyke stroke of these seuerally, was shewed vponupon W. Swallow of Chemlford, & his wife, also vponupon Rich. Potto, & Iustice Browne cruel persecutors of y^e sayd George Egles, concerning whose story Reade before, pag. 2009.

Amonge other persecutours also came to our handes y^e cruelty of one Maister Swingfield an Aldermans Deputye about Thamis streete, who hearing … Angelles wyfe, a midwyfe that kepte her selfe from their Popishe Church, to be at the labour of one Mistres Walter al crooked Lane ende▪ tooke three other with him, and besette the house about, and tooke her and caryed her to Boners officers, bigge with childe, 28. weekes gone, who layd her in Lollardes Tower, where as the same daye shee came in, thorough feare and a fall at her taking, she was deliuered of a man childe, & could hauehave no woman with her in that needefull tyme. Lying there 5. weekes, she was deliuered vnderunder suertyes by friendship, and Doctor Story hearing thereof charged her with fellony, and so sent her to Newgate. The cause was for that she had a womā at her house in her labour that dyed, and the child also, and so he charged her with their death.

But when Syr Roger Cholmley hearde her tell her tale, he deliuered her:Gods punishment vponupon M. Swingheld and other which bewrayed one Angels wyfe. and not much more then 10. weekes after, if it were so long, dyed the sayd Maister Swingfield, and the other three that came to take her.

Because some there be, and not a few, which hauehave such a great deuotion in setting vp y^e Popish Masse, I shal desire thē to marke well this story following. There was a certain Bailiffe of Crowlād in Lincolnshire named Burton,A story of Burton Bayliffe of Crowland, how he was plagued for setting vp Masse. who pretending an earnest frendship to the Gospel in king Edwards dayes, in outward shew at least (although inwardly he was a Papist or Atheist, and wel knowen to be a man of a wicked & adulterous life) set forth the kinges proceedinges lustely, till the time that king Edward was dead and Queene Mary placed quietly in her estate.

Then perceiuing by the first proclamation concerning Religion, how the world was lyke to turne, the Bailiffe turned his Religion likewise: and so he moued the Parish to shew themselues the Queenes friendes, & to set vp the Masse speedely. Neuertheles the most substauntiall of the Parish, marueling much at the Bailiffes inconstant lightnes, considering also his abominable lyfe, and hauing no great deuotion vntounto his request: knowing moreouer that their duty & frendship to the Queene stoode not in setting vp y^e Masse, spared to prouide for it, as lōg as they might: but the Bailiffe called on them still in the Queenes name.

At last, when he saw his wordes were not regarded, & purposing to wynne his spurres by playing the man in y^e Masses behalfe and the Queenes, he got him to the church vponupon a sunday morning, & when the Curate was beginning the Englishe seruice, according to the Statute secte forth by King Edward the vj. the Bailiffe commeth in a great rage to the Curate & sayth: Syrrha will you not say Masse? buckle your selfe to Masse you knaue, or by Gods bloud I shall sheathe my dagger in your shoulder. The poore Curate for feare fetled himselfe to Masse.

Not long after this, the Bailiffe rode from home vpō certaine busines, accompanyed with one of his neighbors and as they came ryding togeather vponupon the Fennebanke homeward agayne,Burton earnest in se…ing vp the Masse. a Crow sitting in a willow tree tooke her flighte ouer hys head, singing after her woonted note, knaue, knaue, & withall let fall vponupon his face, so that her excrements ran from y^e top of his nose down to his beard.

The poysoned sent & sauour whereof so noyed his stomacke, that he neuer ceased vomiting vntil he came home, wherwith his hart was so sore & his body so distempered: that for extreme sicknes he got him to bed, and so lying, he was not able for the stincke in his stomacke and paynefull vomiting, to receaue any reliefe of meate or drinke, but cryed out still, sorowfully complayning of that stincke, & p. 2101with no smal othes, cursing the Crow that had poysoned him. To make short, he continued but a fewe daies, but w^t extreme paine of vomiting and crying, he desperately died without any token of repentance of his former life.

The stinking death of a Popish Massemonger.Reported and testified for a certaintie, by diuers of his neighbours, both honest and credible persons.

Of Iames Abbes Martyr, ye heard before. In the time of whose Martyrdom, what befell vppon a wicked railer against him,Of the Martyrdome of Iames Abbes, read before, pag. 1683. now ye shall further vnderstand. Wherby all such railing persecutors may learne to feare Gods hand, and to take heede, howe or what they speake againste his seruaunts. As this Iames Abbes was led by the sheriffe toward his execution, diuers poore people stood in y^t way, and asked their almes.A story to be noted of all rayling persecutours. He then hauing no money to geue them, and desirous yet to distribute some thing amongest them, did pull off all his apparell sauing hys shirt, & gaue the same vntounto them, to some one thing, to some an other: in the geuing wherof he exhorted them to be strong in the Lord, and as faithful followers of Christ, to stand stedfast vntounto the truthe of the Gospell, which hee (through Gods helpe) would then in their sight seale and confirme w^t hys bloud. Whiles he was thus charitably occupied, and zealously instructing the people, a seruaunt of the Sheriffes going by & hearing him, cried out aloude vntounto them, and blasphemously sayd,The Shrieffes seruaunt vyly rayling agaynst Iames Abbes. beleue him not good people. He is an hereticke and a mad man, out of his wit: beleue him not, for it is heresy that he saith. And as the other continued in his godly admonitions, so did thys wicked wretche still blowe foorthe his blasphemous exclamations vntill they came vntounto the stake where he should suffer. Unto y^e which this constant Martyr was tied, & in the ende cruelly burned, as in his storie more fully is already declared.

A fearefull example of Gods righteous iudgment against the Sheriffes seruaunt rayling agaynst Iames Abbes.But immediatly after the fire was put vntounto him (such was the fearfull stroke of Gods iustice vponupon this blasphemous railer) that he was there presently in the sight of all the people, stricken with a frenesy, wherewith he had before mooste railingly charged that good Martyr of God, who in this furious rage and madnesse, castinge off hys shoes, with all the rest of his cloathes, cried out vntounto the people, and sayde: Thus did Iames Abbes the true seruaunt of God, who is saued, but I am damned. And thus ranne hee rounde about the Towne of Burie, still crying out that Iames Abbes was a good man and saued, but he was damned.

The Sheriffe then being amazed, and caused him to be taken & tied in a darke house, and by force compelled hym againe to put on his cloathes, thinking thereby wythin a while to bring him to some quietnes. But he (all that notwithstanding) as soone as they were gone, continued his former raging: and casting of his cloathes, cried as he did before: Iames Abbes is the seruant of God and is saued, but I am damned.

At length he was tied in a carte, & brought home vntounto his Maisters house, and wythin halfe a yeare or thereaboutes,Example how Popery bringeth to desperation. he being at the poynt of death, the priest of the parish was sent for: who comming vntounto him, brought wyth him the Crucifixe, and theyr houseling host of the aultare. Which geare when the poore wretch sawe, he cried oute of the Priest, and defied all that baggage, saying y^t the Priest wyth suche other as he was, was the cause of his damnation, and that Iames Abbes was a good man, and saued. And so shortly after he died.

Clarke hanged himselfe.Clarke an open enemie to the Gospell and all Godly preachers, in king Edwards daies hanged him self in the Tower of London.

The sodaine death of Troling Smith. Dale the Promotor eaten with lyee. Coxe the Promotor sodainely dyed.The great and notable papist called Troling Smith, of late fell downe sodenly in the streete and died.

Dale the Promoter was eaten into his body w^t Lice, and so died, as it is well knowen of manye, and confessed also by his fellow Iohn Auales, before credible witnesse.

Coxe an earnest protestant in king Edwardes dayes, and in Quene Maries time a papist and a Promoter, going wel and in health to bed (as it seemed) was deade before the morning. Testified by diuers of the neighbours.

Alexander the Keeper of Newgate, a cruell enemie to those that lay there for Religion,Alexander the cruell keeper of Newgate, dyed a rotten death. died very miserably, being so swollen y^t he was more like a monster then a man, and so rotten within, that no man could abide the smell of him. This cruell wretch, to hasten the poore lambes to the slaughter, would go to Boner, Story, Cholmley, & other, crying out: rid my prison, rid my prison: I am too muche pestered with these heretickes.

The sonne of y^e saide Alexander called Iames, hauing left vntounto him by his father great substaunce, within three yeres wasted al to nought:The sodaine death of Iames Alexanders sonne. And whē some marueled how he spent those goodes so fast: O sayde he, euill gotten, euill spent: and shortly after as hee went in Newgate market, fell downe sodenly, and there wretchedly died.

Iohn Peter, sonne in lawe to this Alexander,Iohn Peter Alexanders sonne in lawe, rotted away. an horrible blasphemer of God, & no lesse cruell to the said prisoners, rotted away, and so most miserably died. Who commonly when he woulde affirme any thing, were it true or false, vsed to say: If it be not true, I pray God I rotte ere I die. Witnesse the Printer heereof, with diuers other.

With these I mighte inferre the sodeine death of Iustice Lelond persecutor of Ieffray Hurst,Iustice Lelond per…ecutour p…agued. Robert Baulding persecutor. mentioned before, pag. 2076.

Also the death of Robert Baulding stricken w^t Lightning at the taking of William Seamen, whereuppon hee pined away and died: the storie of the which W. Seaman, see pag. 2035.

Likewise the wretched end of Beard the promoter.Beard the Promotor. Robert Blomfield persecutor. The iudgement of God vponupon Iohn Roc… wood Lady Honor, and George Bradway persecutors in Calice. Richard Long drowned himselfe. The iust punishmēt of God vpō Syr Rafe Ellerker persecutor. The sodaine death of D. Foxford. Pau…er a persecutor hanged himselfe.

Moreouer, the consuming away of Rob. Blomfielde, persecutor of William Browne, specified pag. 2065.

Further, to returne a little backewarde to king Henries time, here might be induced also the example of Ihon Rockewoode, who in his horrible ende, cried all to late, w^t the same woordes which he had vsed before in persecuting Gods poore people of Calice, pag. 1055.

Also the iudgement of God vponupon Lady Honor a persecutor, and of George Bradway a false accuser, both bereft of theyr wittes, page. 1227.

And what a notable spectacle of Gods reuengyng iudgement, hauehave wee to consider in Syr Rafe Ellerker, who as hee was desirous to see the heart taken out of Adam Damlyp, whom they most wrongfully put to death: so shortly after the sayd Syr Rafe Ellerker being slaine of the Frenchmen, they all too mangling him, after they had cutte off hys priuie members, woulde not so leaue hym, before they myght see hys heart cutte oute of hys bodye, pag. 1229.

Doctor Foxlorde, Chauncellor to bishop Stokesley, a cruell persecutor, died sodeinly, read pag. 1055.

Pauier or Pauie, Towne Clearke of London, and a bitter enemie to the Gospell, hanged him selfe, pag. 1055.

Steuen Gardiner hearing of the pitiful end of Iudge Hales after he had drowned himself, taking occasiō thereby, called the following and professiō of the Gospel a doctrine of desperation. But as Iudge Hales neuer fell into that inconuenience before hee had consented to Papistrye: so who so well considereth the ende of Doctour Pendleton (which at hys death ful sore repented that euer he had yeelded to the doctrine of the Papists, as he did) and likewise the miserable ende of the moste parte of the Papistes besides, and especially of Steuen Gardiner him selfe, who after so longe professinge the doctrine of Papistrie, when there came a Bishop to him in his deathbed,The stinking end of Stephen Gardiner proueth Popery and not the Gospell to be the doctrine of desperaration. Gods iust stroke vponupon Iohn Fisher B. of Rochester, and Syr Thomas More. and put him in remembraunce of Peter denying his Maister, he aunswearing againe, sayd: that he had denied with Peter, but neuer repented with Peter, and so both stinckingly & vnrepentantly died: will say, as Steuen Gardiner also hym selfe gaue an euident exāple of the same, to all men to vnderstand that Poperie rather is a doctrine of desperation, procuring the vengeaunce of almighty God to them that wilfully do cleaue vntounto it.

Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester, and Syr Thomas More, in Kyng Henryes time, after they hadde brought Iohn Frith, Baifield, and Baynham, and diuers other to theyr death, what great reward wanne they therby with almighty God? Did not the sworde of Gods vengeaunce light vponupon their owne neckes shortly after, and they them selues made a publicke spectable at the tower hil, of bloudy deathe, which before had no compassion of the liues of others? Thus ye see the saying of the Lord to be true:2. Mach. 3.2 Macc 3 Hee that smiteth with the sword, shall pearish with the sword.

So was Heliodorus in the old time of the Iewes plagued by Gods hand in the Temple of Hierusalem.Of Valerianus read before pag. 74.

So did Antiochus, Herode, Iulian, Ualerianus the Emperour, Decius, Maxentius, with infinite others, after they had exercised theyr crueltye vppon Gods people, feele the like striking hand of God them selues also, in reuenging the bloud of his seruaunts.

And thus much concerning those persecutors, as well of the Clergy sort, as of the laity, which were stricken, and died before the death of Quene Mary. With whom also is to be numbered in the same race of persecuting Byshops, which died before Quene Mary, these bishops folowing.

Bishops.

Coates Bishop of Westchester.

Parfew Bishop of Harford.Bishops that dyed before Q. Mary.

Glinne Bishop of Bangor.

Brookes Bishop of Glocester.

King Bishop of Tame.

Peto Elect of Salisburie.

Day Bishop of Chichester.

Holyman Bishop of Bristow.

p. 2102Now after the Queene immediately followed, or rather waighted vponupon her, the death of cardinal Poole, who the next day departed: Of what disease, although it be vncertaine to many, yet to some it is suspected that hee tooke some Italian Physicke, which did him no good. Then folowed in order.

Bishops.

Iohn Christopherson B. of Chichester.

Hopton B. of Norwich.

Byshops t…t dyed … Q. Mary.Morgan B. of S. Dauids.

Iohn White B. of Winchester.

Rafe Baine B. of Lichfield and Couentrie.

Owen Oglethorpe B. of Carlile.

**Note that B. Tonstall i… Q Maryes tyme was no great bloudy persecutour. For Maister Russell a Preacher was before him, and D. … his Chauncellour would hauehave had him examimined more particularly. The Bishop stayed him, saying: hetherto we hauehave had a good report among our neighbours: I pray you bring not this mans bloud vponupon my head. A note of D. Weston.Cuthert Tonstall B. of Durham.

Thomas Rainolds elect of Herford, after hys depriuation died in prison.

Besides these Bishops aboue named, first died at the same time.

D. Weston Deane of Westminster, afterwarde Deane of Windsore, chiefe disputer against Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer.

M. Slerhurst, maister of Trinitie colledge in Oxforde, who died in the Tower.

Seth Holland deane of Worcester, and Warden of Alsoule Colledge in Oxforde.

William Copinger, Monke of Westminster, who bare the great Seale before Steuen Gardener, after the death of the sayde Gardener, made him selfe Monke in the house of Westminster, and shortly after, so fell madde, and died in the Tower.

Doctor Steward Deane of Winchester.

¶To beholde the woorking of Gods iudgements, it is wonderous. In the first yeare of Quene Marie, when the Clergy was assembled in the Conuocation house, and also afterwarde, when the Disputation was in Oxford against Doctor Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, he that had seene then Doctor Weston the Prolocutoure in his ruffe, howe highly he tooke vponupon him in the Schooles, and how stoutly he stoode in the Popes quarell against simple and naked truth, full litle would hauehave thought, and lesse did he thinke him self (I dare say) that his glory and lofty lookes shoulde hauehave bene brought downe so soone, especiallye by them of hys owne Religion, whose part he so doughtely defended. But such is the rewarde and ende commonly of them, who presumptuouslye oppose them selues to striue against the Lord, as by the example of this Doctorly prolocutor right wel may appeare.D. Weston out of fauour with the Papists. For not long after the disputation aboue mentioned, against Bishop Cranmer and hys fellowes, God so wrought against the sayd Doctour Weston, that hee fell in great displeasure wyth Cardinall Poole and other Bishops, because hee was vnwilling to geue vp his Deanery and house of Westminster, vntounto the Monkes and religious men, whom in deede he fauoured not, although in other things he maintained the Churche of Rome. Who notwithstanding, at last through importunate sute, gaue vp Westminster, & was deane of Windsore: Where not long after, he was apprehended in adulterie,D. Weston taken in adultry D. Weston appe…led to Rome. and for the same, was by the Cardinall put from all hys spirituall liuings.

Wherefore he appealed to Rome, and purposed to hauehave fledde out of the Realme, but was taken by the way, and committed to the Tower of London, and there remained vntill Queene Elizabeth was proclaimed Queene, at whych time he being deliuered, fell sicke and dyed. The common talke was,The death of Doctour Weston. that if he had not so sodēly ended his life, hee woulde hauehave opened and reuealed the purpose of the chiefe of the Cleargy, meaning the Cardinall, whyche was to hauehave taken vp K. Henries body at Windsore, and to hauehave burned it. And thus much of doctor Weston.

The residue that remained of the persecuting Clergy, and escaped the stroke of deathe, were depriued, and committed to prisones: the Catalogue of whose names heere followeth.

In the Tower.

Nicholas Death, Archbishop of Yorke, and Lord Chauncellour.

Thomas Thurlby B. of Ely.

Catholicke Bishops after Q. Mar…es death depriued & imprisoned.Thomas Watson B. of Lincolne.

Gilbert Burne B. of Bath and Welles.

Richard Pates B. of Worcester.

Troublefield B. of Exetor.

Iohn Fecknam Abbot of Westminster.

Iohn Boxal Deane of Windsore and Peterborough.

Of Dauid Poole B. of Peterborough, I doubte whether he was in the Tower, or in some other prisone.Note that some of these Bishops afterward through the goodnes of Q. Elizabeth were dispersed and suffered to be kept in their friendes houses.

Ran away.

Goldwell B. of S. Asse.

Maurice Elect of Bangor.

Edmunde Boner B. of London, in the Marshalsea.

Thomas Wood B. Elect, in the Marshalsea.

Cutbert Scothish. of Chester, was in the Fleete, from whence he escaped to Louane, and there died.

In the Fleet.

Henry Cole Deane of Paules.

Iohn Harpesfield Archdeacon of London, and Deane of Norwich.

Nicholas Harpesfield Archd. of Cant.

Anthony Draycot Archdeacon of Hūtington.

W. Chadsey Archdeacon of Midlesex.

¶Concerning which Doctour Chadsey here is to be noted,A note of Doct. Chadsey. 34. Articles of D. Chadsey. D. Chadsey subscribed to the reformed religion in King Edwardes time. that in the beginning of king Edwards raigne he recanted and subscribed to 34. Articles, wherein hee then fully consented and agreed with his owne hand wryting to the whole forme of doctrine approoued & allowed then in the church, as well concerning iustification by faith only, as also the doctrine of the two sacramentes then receaued, denying as well the Popes supremacie, transubstantiation, Purgatory, Inuocation of Saints, eleuation and adoration of the Sacrament, the sacrifice, & veneration of the Masse, as also all other like excrements of Popish superstition, according to the kings booke then set foorth.

Wherefore the more maruel it is, that he being counted such a famous and learned Clearke, would shew himselfe so fickle and vnstable in hys assertions, so double in hys doinges, to alter hys Religion according to time, and to maintein for truth, not what he thought best, but what he myght most safely defend. So long as the state of the lord Protectour and of hys brother stoode vprighte, what was then the conformitie of this D. Chadsey, hys owne Articles in Latine,D. Chadsey mutable and inconstant in his religion. wrytten and subscribed wyth hys owne hand, doe declare, which I hauehave to shewe, if he will denye them. But after the decay of the kings vncles, the fortune of them turned not so fast, but his Religion turned withall, and eftsoones he tooke vppon hym to dispute agaynste Peter Martyr, in vpholding Transubstantiation at Oxforde, which a little before with his owne hād wryting he had ouerthrowen.

After this ensued the time of Queene Mary, wherein doctor Chadsey to shew hys double diligence,The egernes of D. Chadsey in punishing the poore Martyrs. was so eger in his commission to sit in iudgement, & to bring poore mē to their death, that in the last yeare of Quene Mary when the Lord Chauncellor, Syr Thomas Cornwalles, Lorde Clinton, & diuers other of the Counsell had sent for hym by a special letter to repaire vntounto London out of Essex, he wryting againe to the bishop of London, sought meanes not to come at the Counsels bidding, but to continue still in his persecuting progresse. The Copie of whose letter I hauehave also in my handes (if neede were) to bring foorth.

Mention was made not long before, of one William Mauldon, who in king Henries time suffered stripes and scourgings for confessing the veritie of Gods true religion. It happened in the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth,Wil. Mauldon Prentise with M. Hugh Apparry at Grenewich. that the sayd W. Mauldon was bound seruaunt with one named Maister Hugh Aparry then a wheat taker for the Quene, dwelling at Grenewich. Who being newly come vntounto him, and hauing neuer a booke there to looke vponupon, being desirous to occupie himself vertuously, loked about the house, and founde a Primer in English, whereon hee read in a winters euening. Whiles he was reading, there sat one Iohn Apowel that had ben a Seruing man, about 30. yeres of age, borne toward Wales, whom the said M. Hugh gaue meat and drink vntounto, til such time as he could get a seruice. And as the foresayd William Mauldon read on the Booke, the sayde Iohn Apowell mocked hym after eueryevery worde, with contrary gaudes and flouting wordes vnreuerently, in so muche that he coulde no longer abide him for grief of hart, but turned vntounto him, and sayd: Iohn take heede what thou doest: Thou doest not mocke mee, but thou mockest God. For in mocking of his word, thou mockest hym: and thys is the word of God, though I be simple that read it: and therfore beware what thou doest.

Then Mauldon fell to reading agayne, and still hee proceeded on in hys mocking, and when Mauldon had redde certayne Englyshe Prayers, in the ende he redde, Lorde hauehave mercye vppon vsus, Christe hauehave mercye vponupon vsus. &c.

And as Mauldon was reciting these wordes, the other with a start sodenly sayd: Lord hauehave mercy vponupon me.

With that Mauldon tourned and sayde, what ailest p. 2103thou Iohn?

He sayee, I was afraide.

Whereon wast thou afraide, said Mauldon?

Nothing now, sayd the other? and so he would not tel hym. After thys, when Mauldon and he went to bedde, Mauldon asked him whereof he was afraide?

He sayde, when you red Lord hauehave mercye vppon vsus, Christ hauehave mercy vppon vsus, me thought the haire of my head stoode vpright, w^t a great feare which came vponupon me.

Then sayd Mauldon: Iohn thou mayest see, the euill spirite could not abide that Christ should hauehave mercy vppon vsus. Wel Iohn (said Mauldon) repent and amend thy life, for God will not be mocked. If we mocke and iest at his woord, he will punish vsus.

Also you vse rebauldry woordes and swearing verye much: therfore for Gods sake Iohn amend thy life. So I will (sayd he) by the grace of God: I pray God I may. Amen said the other, with other words, and so went to bed.

On the next day, about 8. of the clocke in the morning, the foresaid Iohn came running downe out of his chamber in his shirt into the Hall, and wrasteled with hys mistresse as he would hauehave throwen her downe.A terrible example of Gods iudgement to be noted of all such as be contemners and mockers of God and his worde. Wherat she shriked out, and her seruauntes holpe her, and tooke hym by strength, and caried him vp vntounto his bed, & bound him downe to his bed (for they perceiued plainely that he was out of his right minde.)

After that, as he lay, almoste day and night his toung neuer ceased, but he cried out of the deuill of hell, and hys woordes were euer stil: O the deuill of hell: now the deuill of hell: I would see the deuill of hell: thou shalt see the deuil of hel: there he was, there he goeth, with other words, but most of the Deuill of hell.

Thus he lay without amendment about 6. daies, that his maister and all his houshold was weary of that trouble and noyse. Then his maister agreed with the keepers of Bedlem, and gaue a peece of money, and sent hym thether. It seemeth that he was possessed with an euill spirit, from the which God defend vsus all.

This is a terrible example to you that be mockers of the word of God: therfore repent & amend, lest the vengeance of God fall vponupon you in like maner. Witnes heereof William Mauldon of Newington.

Gods punishm…n… vponupon a young … of 12 yeares …, blaspheming the Maiesty of God.The same William Mauldon chaunced afterwarde to dwel at a Towne 6. miles from London called Waltamstow, where his wife taught yong children to read, which was about the yeare of our Lorde 1563. and the 4. yeare of Queene Elizabeths raigne. Unto this schoole, amongest other children, came one Benfieldes daughter, named Dennis, about the age of twelue yeares.

As these children sate talking together, they happened among other talke (as the nature of children is, to be busy with many things) to fall in communication of God, and to reason among them selues, after their childish discretion, what he should be.

Whereunto some answered one thing, some an other. Among whom when one of the children had sayd, that he was a good olde father: the foresayd Denis Benfielde casting out impious woordes of horrible blasphemie: what he (sayd shee) is an olde doting foole.

What wretched and blasphemous wordes were these yee heare. Nowe marke what followed.

When William Mauldon heard of these abhominable woordes of the girle, hee willed his wife to correcte her for the same. Which was appoynted the nexte day to be done. But whē the next morow came, her mother would nedes send her to the market to London, the wenche greatly intreating her mother that she might not go, being marueilously vnwilling thereunto. Howebeit thorough her mothers compulsion, shee was forced to goe, and went. And what happened? Her businesse being done at London, as she was returning againe homewarde, and being a little past Hackney,Bl…sphemy punished. sodenly the yong girle was so stricken, that all the one side of her was black, and she speachles. Wherupon immediately she was caried backe to Hackney, and there the same night was buried. Witnes of the same storie William Mauldon and his wife, also Benfielde her father, and her mother, which yet be all aliue.

A terrible example (no doubt) both to old and young, what it is for children to blaspheme the Lord theyr God,A l…sson to children and young gyrles. and what it is for parentes to suffer their young ones to grow vp in such blasphemous blindnes, & not to nurture them betime in the rudimēts of the christian Catechisme, to know first their creation, and then their redemption in Christ our Sauiour: to feare the name of God, and to reuerence his Maiestie. For els what do they deserue but to be taken away by …eathe, whiche contemptuously despise him, of whome they take the benefite of life?

And therefore let all young maides, boyes, and yong men, take example by this wretched seely wench, not only not to blaspheme the sacrede Maiestie of the omnipotent God their creator, but also not once to take his name in vaine, according as they are taughte in hys commaundementes.

Secondly, let all Fathers, Godfathers,… and Godmothers take this for a warning, to see to the instruction and Catechising of their children, for whom they hauehave bounde them selues in promise both to God and to hys Churche. Which if the Father, and godfather, the Mother and godmothers had done to this younge girle, verely it maye be thought this destruction had not fallen vponupon her.

Thirdly, al blinde Atheists, Epicures, Mammonists, belly Gods of this worlde, and sonnes of Beliall,A le…n to all Athenites, Epicures, and Infide…. hypocrites, infidelles, and mockers of Religion, which saye in their hearts (there is no God) learne▪ also hereby, not only what God is, and what he is able to doe, but also in thys miserable creature here punished in this world, to behold what shall likewise fall on them in the world to come, vnlesse they will be warned betime, by such examples as the Lord God doth geue them.

Fourthly and lastly, heere may also be a spectacle for all them which be blasphemous and abhominable swearers,A lesson to all blasphemers & swearers. or rather tearers of God, abusing his glorious name in suche contemptuous and despitefull sort as they vse to do. Whome if neither the woorde and commaundemente of God, nor the calling of the preachers, nor remorse of conscience, nor rule of reason, nor theyr wytheringe age, nor hory haires will admonish: yet let these terrible examples of Gods districte Iudgement, somewhat mooue them to take heede to them selues. For if thys young maiden, who was not fully 12. yeares old, for her vnreuerent speaking of God (and that but at one time) did not escape the stroke of Gods terrible hande, what then hauehave they to looke for, which being men growen in yeares, and stricken in age, being so often warned & preached vntounto, yet cease not continually with theyr blasphemous othes, not only to abuse his name, but also most cōtumeliously and despitefully to teare him (as it were) and all his partes in peeces?

About the yeare of our Lorde 1565. at Bryhtwell in the County of Backshyre,Leuar of Abingdon, a blasphemer of Gods Martyrs, plagued. vppon certaine communication as touching the right reuerende Martyrs in Christ, Byshop Cranmer, Bishop Ridley, and maister Hughe Latimer, there came into an house in Abyngdon, one whose name is Leuar, being a Plowman, dwelling in Bryhtwel afore sayd, and sayd, that he saw that euill fauoured knaue Latimer when he was burned: And also in despite sayd, that he had teeth like a horse. At which time and hour, as neare as could be gathered, the sonne of the sayde Leauer moste wickedly hanged him selfe, at Shepton in the Countie aforesayd within a mile of Abingdon.

These wordes were spoken in the hearing of me Thomas Ienens of Abyngdon.

Did not Thomas Arundell,Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury. Archbishop of Canterburie geue sentence against the Lord Cobham, and died him self before him, being so stricken in his toung, that neither he could swallow nor speake for a certain space before his death? pag. 588.

Frier Campbell,Fryer Champbell plagued. Gods iudgment vponupon Haruy a persecuting Cōmissary. Gods iust plague vponupon William Swallow. the accuser of Patricke Hamelton in Scotlande, what a terrible ende hee hadde, reade before, pag. 957.

Haruey a Commissarie, that condemned a poore man in Calice, was shortly after hanged, drawen, and quartered, pag. 1229.

William Swallow the cruell tormentor of George Egles, was shortly after so plagued of God, that al the hair of his heade, and nailes of his fingers and toes went off, his eyes welneare closed vppe, that hee coulde scante see. Hys wife also was stricken wyth the falling Sickenesse, wyth the whych Maladie shee was neuer infected before. pag. 2010.

Likewise Richard Potto, an other troubler of the sayd George Egles,Gods iust plague vpō Richard Potto. vppon a certaine anger or chafe with hys seruauntes, was so sodenlye taken with sicknesse, that falling vponupon his bed lyke a beast, there he died & neuer spake woorde, pag. 2010.

Richard Denton, a shrinker from the Gospel,Richard Denton burned in his owne house. Fettyes wyfe stricken with madnes. while he refused to suffer the fire in the Lordes quarell, was afterward burned in his owne house with two mo, pag. 1717.

The wife of Iohn Fettye beinge the cause of the taking of her husband, how she was immediatly vppon the same by Gods hand stricken wyth madnesse, and was distracte out of her wittes, read before, pag. 2055.

Thomas Mowse and George Reuet, two persecutors were stricken miserably wyth the hand of God, and so died, pag. 1917.

Also Robert Edgore, for that hee hadde executed the office of a Parish Clearke against his conscience, thoroughe p. 2104anguish and grief of conscience for the same, was so bereft of his wits, that he was kept in chaines and bondes many yeares after, pag. 1917.

As touching Iohn Plankney fellow of new Colledge in Oxford,… Ciuilian, and one Hanington, both fellowes of the same house aforesaid, and both stubburne Papistes, the matter is not much worthy the memory: yet the example is not vnworthy to be noted, to see what little cōfort & grace commonly followeth the comfortlesse doctrine and profession of papistry,Two Papistes of … Col…ge in O…ford …. as in these two yong men, amongst many other may well appeare. Of whome the one, which was Plankney, scholer somtyme to Marshal (who wrote the booke of the crosse) is commonly reported and known to them of that Uniuersitie, to hauehave drowned himselfe in the riuer about Ruly, at Oxford. anno. 1566. the other in a Well about Rome, or as some do say, at Padua, and so beyng both drowned, were both taken vp with Crucifixes as it is sayde of some, hangyng about their neckes: The more pitie that such young studentes did so much addicte their wittes, rather to take the way of papistrie, then to walke in the comfortable light of the Gospell, nowe so brightly spreading his beames in all the worlde, which if they had done, I thinke not contrary, but it had prooued much better with them.

A story of a Courtyer o…e of the Garde▪ which happened An. 1563.Albeit (I trust) the Gospell of Christ beyng now receiued in the Queenes Court amongst the Courtiers and seruaunts of her Gard, hath framed their lyues and maners so to lyue in the due feare of God, and temperance of lyfe, with all sobrietie and mercifull compassion towarde their euenchristen, that they neede not greatly any other instructions to be geuē them in this story: yet for so much as examples many tymes doe worke more effectually in the myndes and memories of men: & also partly considering w^t my selfe, how these, aboue all other sorts of men in the whole Realme, in tyme past hauehave euer had most neede of such wholesom lessons and admonitions, to leaue their vnordinate riote of quaffing and drinking,Admonitio… to Courtiers. and their Heathenish prophanatie of lyfe: I thought here to set before their eyes a terrible example, not of a strange and forreine person, but of one of their owne coate, a Yeoman of the Gard, not fayned by me, but brought to me by Gods prouidence for a warnyng to all Courtiers, and done of very truth no longer ago then in the yeare of our Lord, 1568. And as the story is true, so is the name of the partie not vnknowen, beyng called Christopher Landesdale, dwellyng in Hackney in Middlesex. The order of whose lyfe, and maner of his death beyng worthy to be noted, is this as in story here vnderunder followeth.

This foresayd Landesdale beyng maried to an auncient woman yet liuing,An example of Christopher Lande…dale, one of the Garde, for all Cour…ers to looke vponupon. hauing by her both goods & lands, notwithstandyng liued long in filthy whoredome with a yonger woman, by whom he had two children, a sonne & a daughter, and kept them in his house vntounto the day of his death. Also when he should hauehave bene in seruing of God on the Saboth day, hee vsed to walke or ride about hys fieldes, and seldome hee or any of his house came to the Church after the English seruice was againe receyued. Besides this, he was a great swearer, and a great drunkard, and had great delight also in makyng other menne drunken, and would hauehave them whom he had made drū kards, to call him father, and he would cal thē his sonnes: and of these sonnes by report, he had aboue fortie. And if he had seene one that would drinke freely, hee would marke hym, and spende his money with him liberally in ale, or wyne, but most in wyne, to make him the sooner drunken. These blessed sonnes of his should hauehave great chere oftentymes, both at his owne house and at Tauernes: and not long before his death he was so beastly drunken in a Tauerne ouer against his dore, that he fell downe in the Tauerne yard, and could not arise alone, but lay grouelyng, till he was holpen vp and so caried home.

This father of drunkards, as he was a great feaster of the rich and welthy of Hackney and others,Landesdale a feaster of the rich, and vnmercifull to the pore. so hys poore neighbours and poore tenauntes fared little the better for hym: except it were with some broken meate, which after his feastes, his wyfe would cary and send vntounto them, or some almes geuen at his doore.

Besides all this, he did much iniury to his poore neighbours in oppressing the commons nere about hym, which was a speciall reliefe vntounto them, so that his cattaile eat vp all without pitie or mercy.

There chaunced after this about two yeres before hee died, a poore man, beyng sicke of the bloudy flixe, for very weakenes to lie downe in a ditch of the sayd Landsdales,Poore Lazaru… lying by the rich mans doore. not a stones cast from his house, where he had a litle straw brought him. Notwithstanding, the said Landesdale had backe houses and Barnes enough to hauehave layed hym in, but would not shew hym so much pitie. And thus poore Lazarus there lay night and day, about sixe weekes ere he died.

Certaine good neighbours hearyng of this, procured things necessary for his reliefe, but he was so farre spente, that he could not bee recouered: who lay broyling in the hote sunne, with a horrible smell, most pitifull to behold.

This poore man a little before he died, desired to be remooued to another ditch into the shadowe. Whereuppon,Yet the …ic…e glutton was better, for he suffered Lazarus to lye at his gates. one of the neighbours commyng to Landesdales wyfe for a bundle of strawe for him to lye vppon, shee required to hauehave hym remooued to Newyngton side, because (she said) if he should dye, it would be very farre to cary him to the Church.

Besides this, there was a mariage in this Landsdales house, and the gestes that came to the mariage, gaue the poore man mony as they came & went by him, but Landesdale disdained to contribute any relief vntounto him, notwithstanding that he had promised to M. Searles, one of the Queenes Gard (who had more pitie of him) to minister to him things necessary.

To be short, the next day poore Lazarus departed this lyfe, & was buried in Hackney churchyard:The death of poore Lazarus in the ditch. Upon whom Landsdale did not so much as bestow a …inding sheet, or any thyng els towards his buriall. And thus much cōcerning the end of poore Lazarus. Nowe let vsus heare what became of the rich glutton.

About two yeres after this, the said Landesdale beyng full of drinke (as his custome was) came ridyng in great hast from London on s. Andrews day in the euening, an. 1568. and as it is reported by those that sawe him reelyng too and fro lyke a drunkard with his hat in hys hand, and commyng by a ditch, there tumbled in headlong into the ditch. Some say that the horse fell vppon him, but that is not lyke. This is true, the horse more sober then the maister, came home leauyng his maister behynde him.The end of this vnmercifull … in the ditch. Whether he brake his necke with the fall, or was drowned (for the water was scarsly a foote deepe) it is vncertayne: but certaine it is, that he was there found dead. Thus he beyng found dead in the ditch, the Crowner (as the manner is) sate vponupon him: and how the matter was handled for sauyng his goods, the Lord knoweth: but in the end so it fell out, that the goods were saued, and the poore horse indited for his maisters death.

The neighbours hearing of the death of this man, and considering the maner thereof, said, it was iustly fallen vponupon him, that as he suffered the poore man to lie and dye in the ditch nere vntounto hym, so his end was to die in a ditch likewise.The image of the rich glutton and poore Lazarus. And thus hast thou in this story (Christian brother and Reader) the true image of a rich glutton & poore Lazarus set out before thine eyes, whereby we hauehave all to learne, what happeneth in the ende to suche voluptuous Epicures and Atheistes, which beyng voyde of all senses of Religion and feare of God, yelde themselues ouer to all prophanitie of lyfe, neither regardyng any honestie at home, nor shewyng any mercy to their needye neighbour abroad.

Christ our Sauiour saith: Blessed be the mercifull, for they shall obtaine mercy: Math. 5.Matt 5but iudgement without mercy shal be executed on them which hauehave shewed no mercy, &c. And S. Iohn sayth: He that seeth his brother hauehave neede, 1. Iohn. 3.1 John 3and shutteth vp his compassion from him, how dwelleth the louelove of God in hym? &c. Agayne, Esay against such prophane drunkards and quaffers, thus crieth out: Wo be vntounto them that rise vp early to follow drunkennesse, and to them that so continue vntill night, till they bee set on fire with wyne. In those companies are Harpes and Lutes, Tabrets and Pipes, and wine: but they regard not the workes of the Lord, and consider not the operation of his hands, &c. Woe be vntounto them that are strong to spue out wyne, and expert to set vp dronkennesse.

The punishments of them that be dead, be wholsome documents to men that be aliue. And therfore as the story aboue exemplified may serue to warne all Courtiers and Yeomen of the Gard: so by this that followeth,A warning to gentlemen. I would wish all gentlemen to take good heed and admonition betime, to leaue their outrageous swering and blaspheming of the Lord their God.

In the tyme and raigne of K. Edward, there was in Cornewall a certaine lusty yong Gentleman, which dyd ride in company with other mo Gentlemē,A fearefull example of …. together with their seruaunts, beyng about the number of xx. horsemen. Amongst whom this lusty yonker entring into talke, began to sweare, most horribly blasphemyng the name of God, with other ribauldry words besides. Unto whome one of the company (who is yet aliue, and witnes hereof) not able to abide the hearing of such blasphemous abhominatiō, in gentle wordes speaking to him, said, he should p. 2105geue answere and account for eueryevery idle word.

The Gentleman taking snuffe therat: Why (sayd he) takest thou thought for me? take thought for thy winding sheete. Well (quoth the other) amend, for death geueth no warning:Gentle exhortatiō neglected. for as soone commeth a lambes skin to the market, as an olde sheepes. Gods woūdes (sayth he) care not thou for me, raging still after this maner worse & worse in words, till at length passing on theyr iourny, they came riding ouer a great bridge, stāding ouer a piece of an arme of the sea.The terrible ende of a swearer. Upon the which bridge this Gentleman swearer spurred his horse in such sort, as he sprang cleane ouer with the man on his backe. Who as he was going, cryed, saying: horse & man, and all to the deuil. This terrible story happening in a Towne in Cornewall, I would hauehave bene afrayde amongest these storyes here to recite, were it not that he which was then both reprehender of his swearing & witnes of his death, is yet aliue, and now a Minister, named Heynes. Besides this, also bishop Ridley thē bishop of London, preached and vttred euen the same fact and example at Paules Crosse. The name of the Gentleman I could by no meanes obteyne of the party & witnes aforesayd, for dread of those (as he sayd) which yet remaine of his affinity … kinred in the sayd country.

Hauing now sufficiently admonished, first the Courtyers, then the gentlemen: now thirdly for a briefe admonition to the Lawyers, we will here insert the strange end and death of one Henry Smith student of the law.

The miserable ende of Henry Smith a Lawier of the midle Temple after he was peruerted from the Gospell.This Henry Smyth hauing a Godly Gentleman to his father. & an auncient protestant, dwelling in Camden, in Glocester shyre, was by him vertuously brought vp in the knowledge of Gods word, & sincere religion: wherin he shewed himselfe in the beginning, suche an earnest professor, that he was called of the Papistes, pratling Smith. After these good beginnings it folowed, that he cōming to be a student of the law in the middle Temple at London, there through sinister cōpany of some, & especially as it is thought,Note what leude company doth in corrupting good natures. of one Gifford, began to be peruerted to popery, & afterward going to Louane, was more deepely rooted & groūded in the same: and so continuing a certayne space amōg the papistes, of a yong protestant, at lēgth was made a perfect papist. In so much, that returning from thēce, he brought with him pardōs, a Crucifixe, with an Agnus dei, which he vsed cōmonly to weare about his necke,M. Smithes Images and Agnus dei. & had in his chamber images before which he was woont to pray. Besides diuers other Popish trashe, whiche he brought with hym from Louane. Now what ende followed after this, I were loth to vtter in story, but that the fact so lately done this present yeare, ann. 1569. remayneth yet so fresh in memorie, that almost all the Citie of London not onelyonly can witnesse, but also doth wonder thereat. The end was this.

Not long after, the said Henry Smith with Gifforde his companion, was returned from Louane, beyng now a foule gierer, and a scornfull scoffer of that religion which before he professed, in his chamber where he lay in a house in S. Clements parish without Temple barre,Henry Smith a Lawyer hanged himselfe in his chamber, & after what maner. in the Euening as he was goyng to bedde, and his clothes put off (for he was found naked) he had tied his shirt, (which he had torne to the same purpose) about his priuy places, and so with his owne girdle, or ribond garter (as it seemed) fastned to the bedpost, there strangled himselfe. They that were of his Quest and other, which saw the maner of hys hanging, and the print where he sate vponupon his bed side, do record that he t…rust himselfe downe from his beddes side where he sate, the place where he had fastned the girdle beyng so low, that his hips well nere touched the floore, his legs lying a crosse, and his armes spred abroad. And this was the maner of his hangyng, hauyng his Agnus Dei, in a siluer tablet with his other idolatrous trash in the window by him. And thus being dead and not thought worthy to be interred in the Churchyard, he was buried in a Lane, called Foskew Lane.

This heauy and dreadfull ende of Henry Smith, although it might seeme enough to gender a terrour to all yong popish students of the law: yet it did not so worke with all, but that some remayned as obstinate still as they were before. Amongst whom was one named Williams, a student of the Inner Temple,One Williams a Lawyer, and a rayler agaynst the Gospell, fell madde. who beyng sometyme a fauourer of the Gospell, fell in like maner from that, to be an obstinate Papist, a despitefull railer agaynst true religion, and in conclusion was so hote in his catholike zeale, that in the midst of his railing, he fell starke madde, and so yet to this present day remaineth. The Lord of his mercy turne him to a better mynd, and conuert him, if it bee hys pleasure, Amen.

The miserable ende of Twyford is here no lesse to bee remembred, a busie doer sometymes in K. Henries dayes by Boners appointment,Of the miserable end of this Twyford, read before pag. 1258. in settyng vp of stakes for the burnyng of poore Martyrs. Who when he sawe the stakes consume away so fast: yea sayd hee, will not these stakes hold? I will hauehave a stake (I trow, that shall hold, and so prouided a big tree, and cuttyng of the top, set it in Smith field. But thanks be to God, or euer the tree was all consumed, God turned the state of Religion, and hee fell into an horrible disease, rottyng alyue aboue the ground before he died. Read more of hym, pag. 1258. But because the story both of hym and of a number such other lyke, is to bee founde in sundry places of this history sufficiently before expressed, it shall be but a double labour agayne to recapitulate the same.

❧Ye hauehave heard before, pag. 1911. of the condemnation and Martyrdome of a certain boy called Tho. Drowry, condemned by Williams Chauncellour of Gloucester, contrary to all right and counsaile of the Register then present, called Barker. Now what punishment fell after vponupon the said Chancellor, followeth to be declared.